Problems Into Possibilities

“Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes.”
—–Henry J. Kaiser

Don’t allow troubles to deter you from your goal of reaching a certain weight, achieving a fitness goal or going after a professional dream.  While many situations may appear upsetting, you might be surprised to find they contain valuable lessons to help you cope with difficult events in the future.  And if you adhere to a program of exercise and nutritious meals instead of drowning your emotions in sugar and junk food, you’ll always have enough energy to cope with whatever befalls you.

I can share that I moved a couple of years ago from California to Missouri.  I had to start over.  My friends, support system, everyone I’ve known and the life that I’d had for almost 30 years was left in California.  My family and I moved to Missouri.  It was a difficult transition for me personally.  I worried about my sons dealing with the move, new friends, new school, etc.  Not them!  They made friends practically overnight and loved their new school and the slower lifestyle along with more time and access to me.  Through the move, I regained some transitional weight.  During the move, adjusting some people and circumstances that were conveniently kept abay due to geography, I choose to deal with this devastating time with my comfort, safe place and that was through emotional eating.  That is how I chose to deal with the distress and emotional turmoil.

Now, fast forward to now.  While my life isn’t perfect, the weight regain was the 9-1-1 my life needed.  I’m in the process of putting certain people in my life in their proper perspective, develop strategies to combat emotional eating when the urge and emotions hit, to live a life that I never felt possible or even thought of.  The insecurities and lack of confidence I’ve lived with as long as I remember are revealing themselves less and less.

Thankfully I had my experience of the emotional reaction to the transition of my cross-country move and coming face to face with people that turned out to be very painful in my life.  I choose to eat.  I chose the regained weight in order to get my attention to make real, substantive changes in my life.  Now, it is a do over.  Remember as kids when we played kick ball.  If you mess up your first turn, you get a do over.  My surgery was a do over but I had the blessing of a second chance at a do over for my health and habits.

The same sort of frustrating, hurtful situations still come up for me.  I don’t have a perfect life by any means.  Some emotions come up and are smack in my face.  However, this time I want a different outcome in my life.  Rather than drown and cover my emotions in food for fulfillment, I find other things either for distraction until the urges dissipate or other strategies to feel empowered so I’ll go for a walk, enjoy nature, go for a workout, call a friend, do something that makes me feel fulfilled rather than the fake full feeling of food.

I have CHOSEN to set myself up for success and use the challenges as opportunities to develop healthy habits that will get me through any other tough times I may encounter.  I WORK VERY HARD at developing my healthy habits and NONE of it has been easy!

The GOOD NEWS IS….IF I CAN DO IT SO CAN YOU!  Honest!!!  YES, it takes hard work!!!  IF I CAN MAKE IT THRU without gaining weight SO CAN YOU!!!  THERE IS HOPE!

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator